Search

Menu
Search
in Ecology

Radiological and radioecological risk assessment around the West Delta fossil-fuel power station in Egypt

41 Views


Abstract

There are serious ecological and radiological risks associated with the release and buildup of man-made and natural radionuclides. These risks are particularly relevant for fossil fuel power plants located in residential and agricultural areas. High-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors were employed to analyze environmental samples, including soil, water, and plants collected around the West Delta fossil fuel power station in Egypt. The activity levels of both man-made and naturally occurring radionuclides, such as 226Ra, 228Ra, and40K, were measured, and the corresponding ecological and radiological hazards were assessed using several radiological hazard indices. The findings showed elevated concentrations of 226Ra, 228Ra, and40K specifically in agricultural areas near the power station, with some values exceeding internationally recommended guideline values. The calculated radioecological indicators highlight potential long-term exposure risks for nearby populations and ecosystems. These results indicate the need for targeted monitoring and site-specific mitigation measures in the most impacted areas. while providing essential baseline data for future environmental monitoring. This study provides the first comprehensive radiological and radioecological assessment around the West Delta power station, offering new baseline data for environmental monitoring and risk management.

Similar content being viewed by others

Investigation of natural radionuclide transfer from soil to wheat

Article
Open access
14 October 2025

Assessment of radioactive substance transfer and its ecological and health impacts on the Nasser Lake ecosystem

Article
Open access
18 July 2025

Quantitative modeling of multigenerational effects of chronic ionizing radiation using targeted and nontargeted effects

Article
Open access
26 February 2021

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations


238U:

Uranium-238


235U:

Uranium-235


232Th:

Thorium-232


40K:

Potassium-40


137Cs:

Cesium-137


226Ra:

Radium-226


228Ra:

Radium-228 (representative of the Th-232 decay series)


214Pb:

Lead-214

Raeq
:

Radium equivalent

Hex
:

External hazard index

Hin
:

Internal hazard index

D:

Absorbed dose rate in air

AED:

Annual effective dose rate

ELCR:

Excess lifetime cancer risk

ICP-OES:

Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy

HPGe:

High-purity germanium detector

EPA:

Environmental Protection Agency

IAEA:

International Atomic Energy Agency

ICRP:

International commission on radiological protection

NORMs:

Naturally occurring radioactive materials

UNSCEAR:

United nation scientific committee on the effects of atomic radiation

WHO:

World Health Organization

References

  1. Hassan, H. Radiological assessment of radionuclide dispersion in residential and agricultural regions near Egyptian power stations. J. Environ. Radioact. 250, 106–112 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  2. He, X. L., Wang, W. & Zhang, Y. Natural radioactivity and groundwater contamination from uranium and thorium decay products. Environ. Earth Sci. 81, 112–124 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Salazar, C. G. & Torres, R. Health risks from radionuclide accumulation in soil and water ecosystems. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 212, 111978 (2021).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Alazemi, N. K. & Abdo, A. Radiological hazards associated with naturally occurring radioactive materials in industrial processes. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 125, 176–182 (2016).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Monged, M. K. & Said, M. Radionuclides and trace elements in agricultural soils of the Northeastern nile Valley, Egypt. Environ. Earth Sci. 79, 324 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Carbonell, R. P. & Martinez, S. Fossil fuel consumption and its environmental consequences. Energy Policy. 35, 573–579 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Karmaker, A. K., Rahman, M. M., Hossain, M. A. & Ahmed, M. R. Exploration and corrective measures of greenhouse gas emission from fossil fuel power stations for Bangladesh. J. Clean. Prod. 244, 118645 (2020).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Moser, C. O. Gender planning in the third world: Meeting practical and strategic gender needs. World Dev. 17 (11), 1799–1825 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Tabrizi-Zarringhabaei, S. E., Fard, R. G. & Sayyedfattahi, M. Y. An image-based method to determine the particle size distribution (PSD) of fine-grained soil. Rudarsko-geološko-naftni Zbornik. 34 (3), 27–34 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Walkley, A. & Black, I. A. An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci. 37 (1), 29–38 (1934).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Jackson, T. Live better by consuming less? Is there a double dividend in sustainable consumption? J. Ind. Ecol. 9 (1–2), 19–36 (2005).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Lindsay, W. L. & Norvell, W. Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese, and copper. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 42 (3), 421–428 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  13. USEPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). Soil screening guidance: User’s guidance. EPA 540/R-96/018. Washington, DC, U.S. Gov. Print. Office. (1996).

  14. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report to the general assembly with scientific annexes. (United Nations, 2000).

  15. International Atomic Energy Agency. Handbook of parameter values for the prediction of radionuclide transfer in terrestrial and freshwater environments. In: Technical Reports Series No. 472. (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2010).

  16. International Atomic Energy Agency. Environmental consequences of the Chernobyl accident and their remediation: Twenty years of experience. IAEA Publication STI/PUB/1239 (2005).

  17. Chappell, A. N. & McCulloch, B. The Spatial distribution of Be-7 in surface soils and its implications for erosion tracing. J. Environ. Radioact. 115, 45–52 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Avwiri, G. O., Ononugbo, C. P. & Nwokeoji, A. I. Radiation hazard indices and excess lifetime cancer risk in soil from the oil and gas field environment of delta State, Nigeria. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 7 (5), 250–261 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Osman, A. G., Seif, A. E. & Abdel-Razek, T. M. Assessment of natural radioactivity and radiation hazard indices in soils around industrial areas. Environ. Earth Sci. 81, 323 (2022).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Forcapic, D., Vukovic, B., Stojanovic, M. & Stojanovic, J. Impact of phosphate fertilizer application on uranium levels in agricultural soils. J. Environ. Radioact. 171, 29–37 (2017).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Jazzar, M., & Thabayneh, K. Transfer of natural radionuclides from soil to plants and grass in the western north of WestBank environment, Palestine. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 2(5), 252–258.https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140205.14 (2014).

  22. Saenboonruang, K., Phonchanthuek, E. & Prasandee, K. Soil-to-plant transfer factors of natural radionuclides (226Ra and 40K) in selected Thai medicinal plants. J. Environ. Radioact. 184, 1–5 (2018).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Waida, J., Rilwan, U. & Balarabe, S. Transfer of 40 K, 226 Ra and 232 Th from soil to water and edible plants and associated radiological effects in Jos East and Jos South, Plateau State, Nigeria. (2023).

  24. World Health Organization. Guidelines for drinking-water quality: Fourth edition incorporating the first addendum. (World Health Organization Geneva, 2017).

  25. U S Environmental Protection Agency. Drinking water criteria document for radium. (U S Environmental Protection Agency Office Water, 1991).

  26. UNSCEAR. Sources, effects and risks of ionizing radiation. Report To the General Assembly United Nations, New York (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  27. ICRP. The 2007 recommendations of the international commission on radiological protection. Ann. ICRP. 37, 2–4 (2007). ICRP Publication 103.

    Google Scholar 

  28. OECD. Exposure to radiation from the natural radioactivity in building materials. In Report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD, 1979).

  29. Alshahri, F. & El-Taher, A. Assessment of natural radioactivity levels and radiation hazards in soil samples from Najran city, Saudi Arabia. Sci. Rep. 9, 1–11 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Malain, D. et al. An evaluation of the natural radioactivity in Andaman beach sand samples of Thailand after the 2004 tsunami. Appl. Radiation Isot. 70, 1467–1474 (2012).

    Google Scholar 

  31. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). Sources and Effects of Ionizing radiation, 2000 Report To the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes (United Nations, 2000).

  32. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). Sources and Effects of Ionizing radiation, 2008 Report To the General Assembly, with Scientific Annexes (United Nations, 2008).

  33. El-Taher, A., Badawy, W. M., Khater, A. E. & Madkour, H. A. Distribution patterns of natural radionuclides and rare Earth elements in marine sediments from the red Sea, Egypt. Appl. Radiat. Isot. 151, 171–181 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Badawy, W. M. Natural radioactivity of clay and sandy soils and radiation exposure doses in the Heet and Inshass regions of Egypt. Mosc. Univ. Soil. Sci. Bull. 64, 105–107 (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Zarringhabaei, E. & Tabrizi, A. A. Assessment of geotechnical properties of soils based on particle size distribution and plasticity. Environ. Earth Sci. 78, 17 (2019).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Sposito, G., Skopp, J. & Goldberg, S. Soil organic matter chemistry. In Soil Chemistry, 3rd edn. (CRC, 2008).

    Google Scholar 

  37. Iurian, A. R., Pop, A. L. & Barbu-Tudoran, L. Interaction of radionuclides with organic matter in soils: Environmental implications. J. Environ. Radioact. 145, 30–36 (2015).

    Google Scholar 

  38. WHO/FAO. Codex Alimentarius: General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2019).

  39. United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Regional Screening Levels (RSLs) – Generic Tables (USEPA, 2015).

  40. World Health Organization (WHO). Guidelines for drinking-water Quality, 3rd edn (WHO, 2007).

  41. Kabata-Pendias, A. & Pendias, H. Trace Elements in Soils and Plants. 3rd edn. (CRC Press, 2001).

    Google Scholar 

  42. Waida J, Rilwan U, Galadima OO, Omita E, Sawuta JM, Ojike PE, Rebecca R. Transfer of K40, Ra226 and Th232 from soil toplants and water resulting from mining activities in Bassa, Plateau State, Nigeria (health implications on the inhabitants). J. Eco. Heal.Env. ; 10(2), 5–11 (2022).

Download references

Funding

Open access funding provided by The Science, Technology & Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) in cooperation with The Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Shimaa M. Elgingihy & Ibrahim H. Saleh

  2. Department of Soil and Water Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Abdelsalam A. Abdelsalam

Authors

  1. Shimaa M. Elgingihy
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abdelsalam A. Abdelsalam
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ibrahim H. Saleh
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Shimaa, Abdelsalam and Ibrahim wrote the main manuscript text and prepared Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to
Shimaa M. Elgingihy.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Elgingihy, S.M., Abdelsalam, A.A. & Saleh, I.H. Radiological and radioecological risk assessment around the West Delta fossil-fuel power station in Egypt.
Sci Rep (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-31092-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-31092-0

Keywords

  • Radioactivity
  • Environmental risk
  • Radiological assessment
  • Radioecological risk
  • Fossil fuel power plants

Source: Ecology - nature.com

Integrating feature selection and explainable CNN for identification and classification of pests and beneficial insects

No significant projected climate change effects on the geographic ranges of marine aquaculture species under the sustainable scenario (SSP 1-1.9, 1.5°C warming)

This portal is not a newspaper as it is updated without periodicity. It cannot be considered an editorial product pursuant to law n. 62 of 7.03.2001. The author of the portal is not responsible for the content of comments to posts, the content of the linked sites. Some texts or images included in this portal are taken from the internet and, therefore, considered to be in the public domain; if their publication is violated, the copyright will be promptly communicated via e-mail. They will be immediately removed.

Back to Top
Close